Luminous electric-light switch



March 11, 1930. HOLPFER 1,749,881

LUMINOUS ELECTRIC LIGHT SWITCH Filed NOV. 14. 1927 INVENTOR Patented Mar. 11, 1930 PATENT OFFICE MARCUS HOLIPFER, OF CORAOPOLIS, PENNSYLVANIA LUMINOUS ELECTRIC LIGHT SWITCH Application filed November 14, 1927. Serial No. 233,121.

My invention relates to a certain new and useful improvement in electric light switches, and the primary object of the invention is to provide an electric light switch which embodies a luminous operating element that is distinctly visible in the dark, whereby the po' sition of the electric switch on the wall of a chamber may be readily located when the latter is unlighted or at night.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of the character described which may be installed in any type of electric light switch and without the use of any additional materials except that embodied in the invention itself, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable and eflicient in its use, attractive in appearance, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and install.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention hereinafter disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a front view of a push plug type of electric light switch embodying the pres ent invention.

Figure 2 is a vastly enlarged fragmentary side view of an electric switch push plug provided with the illuminating device.

Figure 3 is a similar view with the illuminating device in cross section.

Referring in detail to the drawing 1 denotes an electric light switch of the push plug type of conventional form now in common use, and supported by the wall plate 2. The switch 1 includes a lighting push plug 3 and an extinguishing push plug 4, the former being disposed above and in vertical alignment with the latter.

My improved device is secured to the outer 50 end of the lighting push plug 3 and includes a cylindrical thimble 5 which is open at both ends thereof. The side wall of the thimble 5 is formed with a pair of longitudinally extending, diametrically opposed slots 6. The slots 6 are open at their inner ends, and their outer ends extend adjacent to the outer end of the thimble 5. The thimble 5 may be constructed from any suitable, preferably resilient metal, and the arrangementof the pair of opposed slots 6 provide a clamping action for securing the thimble 5 to the outer end of the lighting bush plug 3.

The outer end of the thimble 5 is forms 7 with an inwardly disposed, annular flange 7, constituting a seat for the circular transparent member 8 which is positioned against the inner side of the annular flange 7. 'ihe latteralso-forms a reduced opening 9 at the outer end of the thimble 5.

A disk 10 provided with a luminous front face 11, is also mounted in the forward end of the thimble 5 rearwardly of the transparent member 8, and is spaced from the latter by a spacing ring 12. The member 8 besides embodying its necessary transparent feature serves as a protector for keeping the luminous front face 11, of the disk 10, free from dirt, and for preventing wear from repeated use. By spacing the luminous front face 11, of the disk 10 from the transparent member 8, by means of the spacing ring 12, the light radiating-qualities and luminosity of the front face 11, through the reduced opening 9, of the thimble 5 are greatly increased.

The transparent member 8, the spacing ring 12, and the luminous faced disk 10 are fixedly secured against each other in the outer end of the thimble 5, by a pair of diametrically disposed tongues 13 which are formed from the portions of the thimble side wall that are stamped from the latter to form the slots 6. The tongues 13 are bent to extend toward the axial center of the thimble 5 and are pressed firmly against the rear face of the disk 10 thereby securing the latter,together with the spacing ring 12 and the transparent member 8, against movement in the thimble 5.

In attaching the device to the lighting push plug 3, it is only necessary to force the open split inner end of the thimble 5 to its position overlapping the outer end of the lighting push plug 3.

While illustrating and describing my improved device as employed in connection with an electric light switch of the push plug type, it will be obvious that the same may be embodied in the operating member of any type of electric light switch Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The luminous front face 11,- of the disk 10,

consists of a coating of luminous material of the class now commonly employed 1n radium clock dial construction to provide visibility at night.

By the use of my improved device the location of an electric light switch is readily discernible at night thereby obviating the necessity of groping for the same in the dark.

" lVhat I claim is: o

In an electric light switch including a light operating member in the form of a push plug,

,a slotted thimble open at both ends thereof and adapted for clamping engagement with the forward end vof said push plug, a disk provided. with a luminous front face mounted in the outer end of said thimble a transparent member mounted in said thimble for covering the luminous front face of said disk, means for spaclng sald disk from sald transparent member, and a pair of tongues stamped from said thimble in the formation 7 of the slots in the latter and bentto engage said disk for securing the latter and said v transparent member in position in said thimble.

i In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. MARCUS HOLPFER. 

